Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office Press Release: Jail Death 4/7/2020

Clatsop County Sheriff Matt Phillips reports an inmate has died of an apparent suicide. While delivering breakfast, at approximately 6:10 a.m. this morning, corrections deputies found Mr. Nathan Varnadoe hanging in a shower and unresponsive. Deputies immediately entered the shower, began life saving measures and notified fire and EMS.  Astoria Fire Department and Medix ambulance arrived on scene at approximately 6:15 a.m. and transported Mr. Varnadoe to Columbia Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

There were no signs of violence and he had not been ill.

Mr. Varnadoe had been in the Clatsop County jail since February 2, 2020, on an out of state warrant related to alleged sexual assault of a child in the State of Colorado. The Clatsop County major crimes team, led by detectives from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Clatsop County Medical Examiner are investigating. There will be no further release of information or comment until the investigation is complete.